2000–01 South Pacific cyclone season

2000–01 South Pacific cyclone season
First storm formed December 11, 2000
Last storm dissipated May 9, 2001
Strongest storm Paula – 935 hPa (mbar), 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-minute sustained)
Total depressions 15
Tropical cyclones 4
Severe tropical cyclones 1
Total fatalities 7 total
Total damage $800,000 (2001 USD)
South Pacific cyclone seasons
1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03
Related articles

The 2000–01 South Pacific cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It began on November 1, 2000 and ended on April 30, 2001. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the southern Pacific Ocean east of 160°E. Additionally, the regional tropical cyclone operational plan defines a tropical cyclone year separately from a tropical cyclone season, and the "tropical cyclone year" runs from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001.[1]

Tropical cyclones between 160°E and 120°W and north of 25°S are monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service in Nadi. Those that move south of 25°S are monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Wellington, New Zealand.[1]

Contents

Seasonal summary


During the 2000–01 South Pacific cyclone season, only four tropical cyclones and one severe tropical cyclone formed. Compared to an average season, which generally features nine tropical cyclones and four to five severe tropical cyclones, the 2000–01 season was substantially below average. The season itself began unusually late, with the first system developing on February 20;[2] however, according to the JTWC, a brief tropical storm existed between February 16 and 18.

Storms

Tropical Depression 01F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Duration December 11 – December 15
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min),  993 mbar (hPa)

Two people were killed in Fiji as a result of severe flooding.

Tropical Depression 02F

Tropical Depression 03F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Duration December 18 – December 19
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min),  995 mbar (hPa)

Hybrid system, may have briefly been a tropical storm.

Tropical Depression 04F

Tropical Depression 05F

Tropical Depression 06F

Tropical Depression 07F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration February 16 – February 18
Intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min),  993 mbar (hPa)

A brief tropical storm was monitored by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center just off the northern coast of New Caledonia

Tropical Cyclone Oma

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration February 20 – February 22
Intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min),  984 mbar (hPa)

Formed on February 20, dissipated on February 22.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Paula

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration February 26 – March 4
Intensity 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min),  930 mbar (hPa)

Formed on February 26, dissipated on March 4.

Three people were killed by the storm, two in Vanuatu and one in Fiji.[3][4] On Vanuatu, sustained winds reached 100 km/h (62 mph) and gusts were estimated at 200 km/h (120 mph). Initial reports indicated that a young boy had been swept away near Santo and was presumed dead.[5] However, the boy was found days later clinging to a rock. The two fatalities in the country resulted from fallen tree limbs on the islands of Epi and Ambae.[4] Following an aerial assessment of damage in Vanuatu, Malampa and Shefa provinces in were declared disaster areas. In these provinces, nearly 50% of all homes sustained damage and upwards of a quarter of all buildings were impacted. In Fiji, damage from Paula was much less than initially feared; however, several homes in the Western Division were destroyed by rough seas produced by the storm. Elsewhere, structural damage was minimal and a few landslides resulted in damage to crops. Throughout the country, preliminary estimates placed the damage at US$800,000.[6]

Following the storm, requests for assistance from the French government were made by Vanuatu. By March 5, a package of relief supplies, consisting of blankets, water purifiers and clothes was brought to the storm-battered nation.[7]

Tropical Cyclone Rita

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration March 1 – March 5
Intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min),  986 mbar (hPa)

Formed on March 1, dissipated on March 5.

Tropical Depression 11F

Tropical Depression 12F

Tropical Cyclone Sose

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration April 5 – April 11
Intensity 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min),  975 mbar (hPa)

Formed on April 5, dissipated on April 11.

Two people were killed in relation to Cyclone Sose, one in each Vanuatu and New Caledonia.[2][3]

Tropical Depression 14F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Duration May 1 – May 3
Intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min),  1004 mbar (hPa)

Hybrid system

Tropical Depression 15F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Duration May 7 – May 9
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min),  999 mbar (hPa)

Hybrid system

Storm names

South Pacific tropical cyclones are usually assigned names by the RSMC in Nadi, or Fiji Meteorological Service.[8] As soon as a tropical depression becomes a tropical cyclone it is named by the warning centre having responsibility for it at that time. If a tropical depression becomes a tropical cyclone in the Wellington RSMC area of responsibility, MetService, in consultation with RSMC Nadi, will name the cyclone by using the next name from the list.[9]

  • Ami
  • Beni
  • Cilla
  • Dovi
  • Eseta
  • Fili
  • Gina
  • Heta
  • Ivy
  • Judy
  • Kerry
  • Lola
  • Meena
  • Nancy
  • Olaf
  • Percy
  • Rae
  • Sheila
  • Tam
  • Urmil
  • Vaianu
  • Wati
  • Xavier
  • Yani
  • Zita
  • Arthur
  • Becky
  • Cliff
  • Daman
  • Elisa
  • Funa
  • Gene
  • Hettie
  • Innis
  • Joni
  • Ken
  • Lin
  • Mick
  • Nisha
  • Oli
  • Pat
  • Rene
  • Sarah
  • Tomas
  • Usha
  • Vania
  • Wilma
  • Yasi
  • Zaka
  • Atu
  • Bune
  • Cyril
  • Daphne
  • Evan
  • Freda
  • Garry
  • Helene
  • Ian
  • June
  • Koko
  • Lusi
  • Mike
  • Nute
  • Odile
  • Pam
  • Reuben
  • Solo
  • Tuni
  • Ula
  • Victor
  • Winston
  • Yalo
  • Zena
  • Amos
  • Bart
  • Cora
  • Dani
  • Ella
  • Frank
  • Gita
  • Hali
  • Iris
  • Jo
  • Kim
  • Leo
  • Mona
  • Neil
  • Oma
  • Paula
  • Rita
  • Sose
  • Trina
  • Uka
  • Vicky
  • Walter
  • Yolande
  • Zoe

See also

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.wmo.ch/web/www/TCP/OperationPlans/TCP24-English2004.pdf
  2. ^ a b L.-C. Chappel and P.W. Bate (2003). "The South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 2000-01" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/2003/chappel.pdf. Retrieved November 3, 2010. 
  3. ^ a b "International Disaster Database: Disaster List". Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. 2012. http://www.emdat.be/disaster-list. Retrieved October 31, 2010. 
  4. ^ a b Karen Hales (2001). "Cyclone Paula Diary...". Vanuatu.com. http://www.vanuatu.com.vu/~ghales/cyclone_paula_diary.htm. Retrieved November 3, 2010. 
  5. ^ United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (March 1, 2001). "Vanuatu and Fiji Islands - Tropical Cyclone Paula OCHA Situation Report No. 1". ReliefWeb. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64BSLF?OpenDocument&rc=5&emid=ST-2001-0093. Retrieved November 3, 2010. 
  6. ^ United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (March 6, 2001). "Vanuatu and Fiji Islands - Tropical Cyclone Paula OCHA Situation Report No. 2". ReliefWeb. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-64BGD4?OpenDocument&rc=5&emid=ST-2001-0093. Retrieved November 3, 2010. 
  7. ^ "France delivers cyclone relief supplies". BBC. March 5, 2001. 
  8. ^ "Tropical Cyclone names". Met Office. 2007. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/tropicalcyclone/names.html. Retrieved 2008-08-15. 
  9. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean". World Meteorological Organization. 1999. http://www.wmo.ch/pages/prog/www/Peng/tcp/documents/doc/Op-pln99.doc. Retrieved 2008-08-15. 

External links

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